On August 31st, 1991, Metallica released their self-titled fifth studio album (commonly referred to as “The Black Album”); the record, their first with new producer Bob Rock, whom they consulted after a controversial loss at the 1989 Grammys to Jethro Tull in the “Best Metal” category, would become their most successful ever in terms of critical acclaim and record sales.

Twenty-seven-years later the “Black Album” is celebrating another milestone: its 500th nonconsecutive week on the Billboard 200 chart, making it one of four albums with 500 weeks or more on the chart since its inception in 1956 (alongside Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side Of The Moon” ((937 weeks)), Bob Marley and the Wailers’ “Legend: The Best Of Bob Marley And The Wailers” ((539)) and Journey’s “Greatest Hits” ((539)).)

By Tony (Flickr: Metallica_46) via Wikimedia Commons

According to Billboard, “Metallica’s self-titled album marked the rock band’s first No. 1 on the Billboard 200, when it debuted atop the list dated Aug. 31, 1991. The set spent four weeks on top, and marked the first of so far six chart-toppers for the group. The album continues to hold the record as the biggest selling album in Nielsen Music history, with 16.83 million copies sold in the U.S. (since Nielsen began tracking data in 1991).”

We at Celebgum extend our congratulations to the band for their historic milestone and thirty seven years as a metal band as well as wishes for their continued success.